Service Opportunities

Volunteers work in the Volunteer Repackaging Center sorting and packing food for distribution into our community. This can include building various food boxes, sorting food drive donations, packaging produce into individual family size portions, or other relevant projects contributing to the Foodbank mission. While we welcome volunteers as young as three years of age, volunteers must be at least 16 years old to report without an adult. Please note that volunteers will be on their feet for their shift. Some volunteers may be asked to lift and/or move boxes of food weighing up to 50 lbs.

You can sign up for as many shifts as you want on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 3pm-5pm. There are also shifts available during the days if we ever have a day off school.

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A wide variety of activities, including but not limited to picking up trash, cutting down brush in local parks, and stocking free stores that support teachers with supplies. The opportunities to serve St. Louis and the surrounding areas are abundant.   

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Errands Fulfill a shopping list, pick up donations, make deliveries to treatment centers, or complete other errands around the metro St. Louis area.  You’ll bring smiles wherever you go!

Event Committees Collect donations, solicit sponsors, schedule vendors, and help promote one of our fundraising events. We are always looking for creative ideas and new partnerships!

Events Register guests, sell raffle tickets, monitor games, set up auctions…so many options to help make our fundraisers successful!

Munchie Meals Order, pick up, and deliver lunch to a treatment center. This is an independent program organized by a volunteer on our Board of Directors!

Office Sort donations, stock the toy closet, assemble patient gifts, or complete other various tasks. Every job makes a huge difference in supporting our small staff!

Also, there are opportunities to serve at many one-time events.

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St. Louis Area Diaper Bank strives to make a health, social and economic impact by not only providing diapers and period supplies but by connecting them to these resources and other resources through our partner agencies. Providing families in need with free diapers influences a range of positive outcomes for these families, such as positive changes in parental mood (reducing the risk of childhood abuse); improved child health and happiness (nurturing their ability to learn); and increased opportunities for childcare, work stability, and school attendance.

Volunteers pack diapers and period supplies.

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Team Activities for Special Kids (TASK) is a nonprofit 501(c)3, year-round instructional sports program that provides athletic and social opportunities to kids with special needs. The purpose of the program is to help build self-esteem and skills in children with special needs. 

Many participants at TASK need one-on-one support to participate in an activity. Without volunteer support, our athletes would be unable to participate. Only through having enough volunteers are we able to have enough support for every athlete to achieve their dreams.

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Ten by Three® reduces poverty in developing countries by using our unique Prosperity Wages® model to pay for artisan products. This exclusive patent pending financial model creates a cycle of entrepreneur driven growth resulting in permanent financial independence for the artisan.

Volunteers will help fulfill orders, help in the warehouse, unload shipments, help with office work, help price baskets, and set up and take down displays.

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Welcome Neighbor STL/START provides comprehensive help to refugees in the St. Louis region. The organization led by Jessica Bueler has a philosophy of “leaving the ladder down” to help those in need.

START's mission is to aid refugee families in St. Louis by connecting them with teens seeking volunteer opportunities. Volunteers help through fundraising, providing moving assistance, and tutoring.

Promise Community Homes provides affordable housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). To date, Promise Community Homes has 86 properties that house over 300 residents. We have been serving our community for almost 50 years. 

Promise Community Homes is looking for volunteers to weed, mulch, rake, and other outdoor activities.

To sign up contact Jessica Illert.

The mission of Operation Food Search is to heal hunger with innovative and collaborative solutions that provide food today. . . and help create a hunger-free tomorrow.

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In addition to working with some great kids and young adults with disabilities, KEEN volunteers, or “coaches,” meet a variety of interesting community-minded people. Volunteering for KEEN is fun and offers opportunities for occasional participation, regular involvement, and leadership. Volunteers don't need any prior experience working with disabled individuals – KEEN provides training prior to each session. Coaches don't need to be athletic, either. Our athletes will love you just as you are!

Sign up

Lolly's Place is a literacy-focused, after school tutoring program located in University City. We work primarily with children in grades K-8th grade.  We are currently recruiting volunteers to begin tutoring in the fall semester (September - December 2022).  

We seek volunteer tutors who 

• Enjoy spending time with and/or mentoring k-8th grade students.
• Support students to "Learn to Love Learning"
• Inspire students to achieve their personal best
• Support students who are struggling in school to achieve academic success.
• Believe in the power of developing a positive one-on-one relationship 

ProMedica Hospice is seeking Volunteers in your Community 18 years and older!
ProMedica volunteers can provide moral support and socialization for our
terminally ill hospice patients. We receive requests for volunteers who will provide
friendly visits, read the bible, hold a hand, or play music for our patients.

HELPING HANDS HELPING OTHERS

Would you like to provide friendly visits, respite sitting, and loving care to a family
near you? Perhaps you have thought about volunteering but never had the
opportunity for training and support for your efforts. We ask for only a
commitment of 2 to 4 hours per month. If visiting patients isn’t your thing ask about other types of volunteer opportunities.

Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Kathleen, at the ProMedica office for more information or to set up an interview.

314-453-0990

Kathleen.farrell@promedica.org

Definitely mark your calendar for the week after Thanksgiving – that’s when we put up Christmas decorations – garland and ELEVEN trees!!! I could not do it without the Nerinx girls. Always so helpful. Nov. 28, 29, 30 I could use about 6 girls each day after school to help with decorations. (AND AFTER CHRISTMAS, NEED TO TAKE THINGS DOWN--MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW)

On a regular basis, we have BINGO on Sunday afternoons at 1:30

Monday – Painting with Watercolors at 3:30***

Tuesday – Gourmet Delights and Trivia at 3:30***

Thursday – afternoon movie and bowling at 3:30

BIG events (like our Alzheimer’s fund raiser and Veterans celebration and Christmas party).

Sweet Celebrations services the homeless community by providing personalized birthday celebrations for each child. The birthday parties include: themed party decor, a personalized birthday cake, ice cream, drinks, wrapped Birthday gifts from their wish list including a Build-A-Bear™ and a personalized Birthday shirt, birthday games and activities, and goody bags for all the birthday guests.

To get involved, sign up here.

There are a number of opportunities for individuals and groups to stand in the mission and bridge the gap. Make an immediate impact! 

KidSmart Gift of Heart Volunteers:

• Sort donated supplies and inventory product
• Merchandise Free Store shelves with supplies (temporarily unavailable)
• Assist shoppers with check-in and check-out (temporarily unavailable)
• Help with special events
• Help with mailing projects
• Office support
• Pick-up and warehouse partners

Group and Corporate Volunteers

KidSmart offers A+ team building for a purpose! Join us! 

• Host a Drive
• Volunteer at KidSmart
• Sponsor a School 
• Host a 3rd Party Event
• Sponsor an Event
  • On the Go! 
  • Push for Pencils, Push for Change
  • Light up Learning 
  • Soar Into Summer 
  • Big Backpack Build

Please email Katherine McAtee at katherine@kidsmartstl.org for more information to schedule private volunteer shifts. To see current volunteer opportunities and sign up, please visit: https://cerv.is/0290

The Rockwood is a St. Louis retirement community in Webster Groves that has service opportunities available for one student at a time. To sign up, contact Tom at tom.b@therockwood.com.

Since 1984 Seed St. Louis has connected people to the land, to their food, and to each other. They are a 5013C nonprofit that supports a network of over 250 community gardens, school gardens, and urban orchards in neighborhoods throughout the St. Louis region. Their purpose is to provide communities with the tools, education, and empowerment to grow their own food.

Sign up here.

THIS SERVICE OPPORTUNITY IS OPEN TO FRESHMAN, SOPHOMORES, AND JUNIORS.

Mission

https://friendsofwings.org/contact/

Friends of Wings funds and mobilizes people around programs and services that support every moment of the hospice journey and celebrate the love that will never end. Programs that are designed to provide moments of normalcy and joy, nurture healing, preserve memories and connect people with others sharing a similar experience--and experience that for most will be the most challenging of their lives.

Sign up here.

The Saint Louis Crisis Nursery provides a short-term, safe haven for 5,000 children a year, birth through age 12, whose families face an emergency caused by illness, homelessness, domestic violence or overwhelming parental stress.

All volunteers must have an understanding of children and respect for their privacy with a non-judgmental attitude towards the children and their parents.  Volunteers must also be at least 14 years old and be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian until the age of 16 years old, and must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. (Please be prepared to provide proof of vaccination, upon request.)

Volunteer packets can be found here and can take 1-2 weeks to be approved.

Earth Day 365's mission is to inspire and mobilize a collaborative movement towards an equitable and environmentally sustainable St. Louis region – every day.

Click here to sign up.

Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School, a ministry of the Diocese of Belleville, is committed to deepening faith in Jesus Christ, and to providing a holistic learning approach to faith development and education within a Catholic framework. Their mission is to inspire, prepare, and empower kindergarten through grade 8 students in East St. Louis and surrounding communities, to become the next generation of wholesome, responsible, and dedicated leaders of their communities and of our world.

Click here to sign up.

Marian Middle School, a Catholic school welcoming adolescent girls of all backgrounds, is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty through education. Marian fosters each student’s spiritual, academic, social, moral, emotional, and physical development from middle school through post-secondary education as a foundation for career success. Volunteer opportunities can be found here.

Email Marian to find out more information.

Cardinal Ritter Senior Services creates communities that promote the dignity of human life and reflect the spirit of Jesus Christ.

There are various service locations. This is considered a medical facility, background checks and covid-19 vaccinations are required for all volunteers. It typically takes a month after first contact for students to begin serve at this site. To begin serving at Cardinal Ritter, please fill out this interest form.

You must register in advance to serve at Bridge Bread. Please do so by emailing Rachel with your name, age, school, and availability.

Thank you for your interest! Some of the volunteer opportunities are helping in the distribution room, which takes a few times to get the hang of, and helping the bakeshop. The bakeshop is open from 9-4 Friday and Saturday with two shifts. Students need to be 16 years old to volunteer here without an adult; students 15 and under will need an adult present.

Skills needed for the bakeshop:

• General responsibility around showing up or communicating if they can’t make it.
• Money handling (the point of sale system will make change).
• Ability to have conversations with customers.
• Light cleaning and some restocking.

Skills needed for Distribution:

• Ability to lift up to 15 lbs.
• Ok with going in and out of freezers.
• Detail oriented to ensure accurate packing of orders.

Misc. volunteer:

• If there is a young person who has some experience working with power tools, we have a volunteer who fixes miscellaneous odds and ends around the facility. If partnered with this volunteer, then may we an opportunity for them.
• We also have scanning and other msc. Office tasks that they could take on that needs to get done. If there was any interest in this.

For over 47 years, RMHC has ensured families everywhere have access to the care and resources they need – especially when they have a sick child. Thanks to our dedicated local Chapter staff members around the world - that promise has never been broken.

ndividual Volunteer Opportunities- These volunteers typically commit to a regular 3 hour weekly or every other week shift for at least a year.

House Volunteers: As a House Volunteer, you welcome families to The Ronald McDonald House. It may be a warm, friendly smile to a returning family or helping a family settle in for the first time. Other duties could include giving House tours, maintaining a home-like environment, and providing support to House staff. Day and evening shifts are available. The minimum age requirement is 18 years old.

Family Room Volunteers: As a Family Room Volunteer, you provide a warm welcome and supportive atmosphere to families coming to use our Ronald McDonald Family Rooms. Our Family Rooms are inside area hospitals and provide a break from the hospital setting for the families of pediatric patients. You would register guests, perform simple record-keeping, light housekeeping, and offer tours of the Family Room to visitors. The minimum age requirement is 21 years old.

Special Events: As a Special Event Volunteer, you play a critical role in our special events which raise funds for our organization. Our special events throughout the year include auctions, golf tournaments, and other fundraisers.

To sign up, click HERE. Volunteers will then be asked to attend one of our monthly information sessions.

If you would like to serve at Almost Home, sign up here.

DASA offers numerous opportunities to serve throughout the year. Find more information here.

To complete a volunteer application, click here.

To see more information on programs at the Missouri Botanical Garden please click here.